Effectiveness of Malaria Camps as Part of the Odisha State Malaria Elimination Drive

The standard molecular method of (conventional) PCR + gel electrophoresis will be used to measure parasite presence. All reactions are run with Plasmodium positive controls and negative controls. 10% of samples are QC-ed at second independent site.

The results can be continuous and categorical. Continuous variables will be transformed into categorical variables, so that infections can be sub-divided into symptomatic or asymptomatic.

The standard molecular method of (conventional) PCR + gel electrophoresis will be used to measure parasite species. All reactions are run with Plasmodium positive controls and negative controls. 10% of samples are QC-ed at second independent site.

Malaria as detected by a rapid diagnostic test

Measured by quantifying the number of gametocyte infected erythrocytes and dividing by the number of leukocytes or by quantitative reverse transcriptase real time PCR. Both results can be measured continuously and categorically (data will be transformed). To account for a mixed-infection (either by species or by multiple strains) we will take the gametocyte to trophozoite ratio to reduce any apparent bias.

Hemoglobin will be measured by POC testing which provides both continuous and categorical data (when analyzed by local standards) regarding anemia status.

Height in cm will be measured with a height measuring tape. Weight in kg will be measured with a scale. Participants will be asked to remove shoes and shawls or cardigans, or other clothing that can be removed without ethical concerns.

BMI will be calculated as (kilograms/meters squared). Measures will be adjusted by age using the WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Study Group's 2006 WHO Child Growth Standards: Length/height-for-age, weight-for-age, weight-for-length, weight-for-height and body mass index-for-age: Methods and development.

Categorical BMI measurements will be based on standards for Asian Indians: Misra A, Chowbey P, Makkar BM, et al. Consensus Statement for Diagnosis of Obesity, Abdominal Obesity and the Metabolic Syndrome for Asian Indians and Recommendations for Physical Activity, Medical and Surgical Management.

Body temperature will be measured with a digital thermometer placed under the participant's tongue reported in degrees Fahrenheit.

Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) is the circumference of the left upper arm, measured at the mid-point between the tip of the shoulder and the tip of the elbow (olecranon process and the acromium). Participants will be asked to remove any clothes that may hinder the measurement (preferable directly on skin, but tight clothes can be accepted if they are difficult to remove).

MUAC will be measured in cm to one decimal using a Myotape/tape measure.

Measured by a high-throughput bead-based cytometric assay provides continuous and categorical (seropositive vs. seronegative) results.

Plasmodium infections will be characterized for their mixed clonality, genetic diversity, and molecular force of infection by MinIon or Illumina NextGen sequencing.